Free backlink sites list: 1,964 places to get a link
A maintained list of 1,964 legitimate backlink sites: directories, profile creation sites, guest posting sites, launch platforms, registries and marketplaces. 1,628 are free or have a free tier, 44 usually give a dofollow link, and 781 have an estimated DA of 70 or more. Every row shows authority, link type, cost and effort, and links straight to the submit page.
- 1,964
- Opportunities
- 1,628
- Free or freemium
- 781
- Est. DA 70+
- 208
- Quick wins
All filters2
The table is wider than the screen — swipe it sideways for cost, effort and the preparation notes.
| # | Impact (sorted) | Site — sort by this | Est. DA — sort by this | Link | Domain | Type | Cost | Effort — sort by this | Priority | Status | What to prepare | Rules / caveat | Checked | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66 | Help a B2B Writer | 45 | Link type unknown | helpab2bwriter.com | PR and source platforms | Free | Moderate | Medium | Needs checking | Register as source for B2B content quote opportunities. | Use tech/SaaS/privacy expertise categories. | 2026-07-30 | Open Help a B2B Writer submit page (new tab)Help a B2B Writer details |
| 2 | 63 | HARO (Help a Reporter Out) | 85 | Sometimes dofollow | helpareporter.com | PR and source platforms | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Sign up as a source and answer reporter queries in your area with short, quotable expert responses. | Answer only queries you are qualified for, and expect most pitches to go unused; links depend on the outlet. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open HARO (Help a Reporter Out) submit page (new tab)HARO (Help a Reporter Out) details |
| 3 | 63 | Source of Sources | 25 | Link type unknown | sourceofsources.com | PR and source platforms | Free | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Subscribe/respond to journalist requests. | Peter Shankman SOS; respond only with relevant expertise. | 2026-07-30 | Open Source of Sources submit page (new tab)Source of Sources details |
| 4 | 60 | Dot Star Media | — | Link type unknown | dotstar.media | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Sign up as a source and answer requests on online tools, PDFs, AI prompts and fitness. | US/Canada requests free; UK tiers paid. | Added 2026-11-01 | Open Dot Star Media submit page (new tab)Dot Star Media details |
| 5 | 60 | IssueWire | 55 | Nofollow | issuewire.com | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Test one legitimate product-news release, then use paid tiers only if referral or discovery value is measurable. | Official terms state links are nofollow; syndication and pickup are not guaranteed, so do not treat it as a PageRank tactic. | https://www.issuewire.com/terms-of-service | Open IssueWire submit page (new tab)IssueWire details |
| 6 | 60 | SourceBottle | 45 | Link type unknown | sourcebottle.com | PR and source platforms | Free + paid tier | Involved | Medium | Needs checking | Create source profile and monitor relevant requests. | More AU/NZ-centric; still useful. | 2026-07-30 | Open SourceBottle submit page (new tab)SourceBottle details |
| 7 | 59 | Prezly | 65 | Nofollow | prezly.com | PR and source platforms | Not stated | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Build a branded your tool newsroom, publish media-ready stories, and send targeted pitches to opted-in contacts. | A hosted newsroom is owned media, not earned coverage; comply with outreach and privacy rules and avoid mass pitching. | https://www.prezly.com/pricing | Open Prezly submit page (new tab)Prezly details |
| 8 | 53 | ACCESS Newswire | 55 | Nofollow | accessnewswire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Distribute a substantial your tool launch or privacy/security research story with media, founder quote, and one canonical URL. | Editorial acceptance applies; unlimited hyperlinks are offered, but pickup and link treatment remain publisher-controlled. | https://www.accessnewswire.com/submit-a-press-release | Open ACCESS Newswire submit page (new tab)ACCESS Newswire details |
| 9 | 53 | Business Wire | 90 | Nofollow | businesswire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Reserve for major corporate news, partnerships, funding, or independently useful your tool research. | Account setup and editorial review are required; distribution is not an editorial endorsement and links may be qualified. | https://secure.businesswire.com/pricing | Open Business Wire submit page (new tab)Business Wire details |
| 10 | 53 | CisionOne | 85 | Nofollow | cision.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Build a tightly relevant press list and pitch an original your tool report, launch, or expert source contribution. | Use only permission-aware, personalized outreach; software access never guarantees coverage or a link. | https://www.cision.com/journalist-outreach/ | Open CisionOne submit page (new tab)CisionOne details |
| 11 | 53 | eReleases | 60 | Nofollow | ereleases.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Use its PR Newswire-backed packages only for a strong national-interest your tool story with clear evidence. | No coverage or SEO outcome is guaranteed; avoid keyword-stuffed or purely promotional copy. | https://order.ereleases.com/ | Open eReleases submit page (new tab)eReleases details |
| 12 | 53 | GlobeNewswire | 90 | Nofollow | globenewswire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Use for a major release or original your tool trend report that merits broad international distribution. | Submit only verifiable corporate news; publisher pickups and link attributes vary by outlet. | https://www.globenewswire.com/en/press-release-distribution-services | Open GlobeNewswire submit page (new tab)GlobeNewswire details |
| 13 | 53 | Muck Rack | 85 | Nofollow | muckrack.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Identify reporters actively covering privacy, security, developer tools, and consumer utilities; send individualized evidence-led pitches. | No direct listing backlink is promised; respect journalist preferences and avoid unsolicited bulk outreach. | https://muckrack.com/pricing | Open Muck Rack submit page (new tab)Muck Rack details |
| 14 | 53 | Newswire | 80 | Nofollow | newswire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Use a focused product or research announcement and target the most relevant technology or cybersecurity distribution. | Release must be factual and newsworthy; syndication does not guarantee journalist coverage, ranking, or a followed link. | https://www.newswire.com/our_prices | Open Newswire submit page (new tab)Newswire details |
| 15 | 53 | PR Fire | 45 | Nofollow | prfire.co.uk | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Use its distribution-only option for ready copy or writing package for a strong UK-facing your tool announcement. | Content must pass review; distribution and syndication are paid exposure, not guaranteed independent editorial links. | https://dashboard.prfire.co.uk/press_releases/build/plan | Open PR Fire submit page (new tab)PR Fire details |
| 16 | 53 | PR Leap | 55 | Nofollow | prleap.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Submit a newsworthy your tool release and target its newspaper, radio, television, and online media network. | Distribution to outlets is not the same as earned coverage; verify current package scope before purchase. | https://www.prleap.com/features | Open PR Leap submit page (new tab)PR Leap details |
| 17 | 53 | PR Newswire | 95 | Nofollow | prnewswire.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Pitch a high-signal announcement to relevant technology, AI, privacy, or India media lists through its distribution network. | Membership and distribution charges may apply; placement, pickup, and backlinks are never guaranteed. | https://www.prnewswire.com/pr-distribution-and-placement/ | Open PR Newswire submit page (new tab)PR Newswire details |
| 18 | 53 | TMX Newsfile | 65 | Nofollow | newsfilecorp.com | PR and source platforms | Paid | Involved | Medium | Verified live | Submit a polished technology or company announcement and select only the relevant distribution circuit. | Editorial rules apply; a wire release is owned media distribution, not guaranteed independent coverage. | https://www2.newsfilecorp.com/ | Open TMX Newsfile submit page (new tab)TMX Newsfile details |
How to build backlinks with this list
Four steps that work for a new site, a SaaS or a side project. No paid link packages, nothing that risks a penalty.
Get the basics right first
Before submitting anywhere, have a one-line description, a 150-word description, a square logo and two or three screenshots ready. Every form asks for some mix of these.
Claim profiles and free listings
Start with the free, quick rows: profile creation sites and free directories. They are one form each and build the entity signals search engines use to understand who you are.
Go after a few strong links
Then pick a handful of high DA and dofollow sites that fit your niche, and write proper guest posts or launch posts for them. Ten relevant links beat a hundred random ones.
Track and keep it clean
Note where you submitted and when. Recheck after a month, update stale descriptions, and never pay for bulk link packages: they put the whole site at risk.
Behind the list
A link opportunity is not a link.
Every row here starts as a line in a sheet, gets normalised into one of 16 groups, scored for cost, effort and impact, and written up with the steps to actually submit. The floor below represents that pipeline.
Open the sheet viewAn illustration of the AltF Backlinks floor: opportunities sourced at the back, vetted for cost and effort by the engineering pod, written up for outreach by the design pod, then tracked to placement along a line.
Backlink sites by category
Product launch sites87
One-shot launches where timing and preparation decide the outcome.
Guest posting sites55
Publications that accept contributed articles. Slow and editorial, but the links are earned.
AI tool directories200
Fast-growing listings specifically for AI-powered tools.
App stores and marketplaces273
Extension, plugin and integration stores. Real review processes, real distribution.
Startup directory submission sites120
Startup listings, beta lists and founder media.
Software directory submission sites215
General tool and software catalogues with real search traffic.
Software review sites29
B2B review sites. Slow to approve, strong once live.
Developer platforms for backlinks139
Package, image and docs hosting that carries real authority.
Web design galleries for backlinks87
Showcases judged on craft. A good screenshot matters more than copy.
Web 2.0 and publishing sites214
Write once, link back. Editorial standards vary widely.
PR and press release sites41
Get quoted or distribute a release. Slower, higher ceiling.
Business directory submission sites109
Company and local listings. Unglamorous, consistently indexed.
Profile creation sites163
Owned pages you control: company, founder, knowledge-panel entities.
Forum and community backlink sites61
Answer real questions. Never drop a bare link.
Social bookmarking sites18
Brand surface and referral traffic more than link equity.
More backlink opportunities153
Everything that does not fit the buckets above.
Common questions
Do backlinks still matter for ranking in 2026?
Links remain one signal among many, and low-quality bulk links do more harm than good. What still works is being listed where your buyers actually look — directories with real traffic, registries your peers use, and launch platforms with engaged audiences. Every entry in this list is a place a human might plausibly find you, which is why they are worth submitting to regardless of link equity.
Which submissions should I do first?
Start with the quick wins filter: free, low effort, and not in the lowest priority band. 208 of the 1,964 entries qualify, and those are the ones where a single form submission gets you a live listing the same week. Launch platforms are worth saving until your product is genuinely ready, because you only get one good attempt at each.
How is the impact score calculated?
It starts from a hand-assigned priority band (do first, high, medium, later), then adjusts for cost and effort. A free, quick opportunity scores above a paid, involved one in the same band, because it is the one you can realistically finish today. The score is a queueing aid, not a measure of domain authority.
Are these links free?
1,628 of the 1,964 entries are free to submit to or offer a free tier that includes a listing. Cost is shown on every row, and the "nothing to pay" filter narrows the list to exactly those.
Which backlink sites are dofollow?
44 entries are known to give a followed link on a normal listing, and more give one only in some placements. The link type is shown on every row and can be filtered. Sites change their link policy without notice, so treat the label as a starting point and check the live page after you are listed. A nofollow link from a busy site still sends visitors and helps search engines discover you.
What does the DA number mean?
It is our estimate of the site's domain authority, a third-party style 0-100 score of how strong a domain's link profile is, rounded to the nearest 5. 1,580 of the 1,964 sites have one. It is useful for comparing sites, not a Google metric, so relevance to your niche still matters more.
How do I get backlinks for a new website?
1. Get the basics right first: Before submitting anywhere, have a one-line description, a 150-word description, a square logo and two or three screenshots ready. Every form asks for some mix of these. 2. Claim profiles and free listings: Start with the free, quick rows: profile creation sites and free directories. They are one form each and build the entity signals search engines use to understand who you are. 3. Go after a few strong links: Then pick a handful of high DA and dofollow sites that fit your niche, and write proper guest posts or launch posts for them. Ten relevant links beat a hundred random ones. 4. Track and keep it clean: Note where you submitted and when. Recheck after a month, update stale descriptions, and never pay for bulk link packages: they put the whole site at risk.
Will submitting everywhere hurt my site?
Submitting to spam directories can. That is why this list is curated rather than scraped, and why entries carry a status showing whether they have been verified as live. Skip anything that promises hundreds of links for a fee, and prefer places where a real person reviews submissions.